Town of Wallkill eyed as location for Showtime series on prison escape

Thursday

Aug 10, 2017 at 2:28 PMAug 10, 2017 at 2:38 PM

James Nani Times Herald-Record @JamesNani845

TOWN OF WALLKILL - A film location scout is looking at Town of Wallkill homes as a location to possibly shoot part of a Showtime Network miniseries directed by actor Ben Stiller about the 2015 escape of two prisoners from a Dannemora prison.

The film scout this week reached out to Town of Wallkill officials to talk about shooting part of the series "Escape at Dannemora." The production would involve four days of shooting in mid-October, possibly 10 days of preparation and wrap work, and two more days of shooting in February next year, according to an email this week from location scout Brittany Rostron.

Rostron said the production was looking for a home "that can look like it is actually from upstate NY." She was also seeking information about fees, applications and guidelines.

According to a story from the Press-Republican in Plattsburgh, casting agents held an open call for extras for the eight-part series in July.

Last month Eric Michelson, who runs a film studio in Middletown, said his studio attracted interest as the set for the Dannemora prison, but Michelson said the producers changed their minds and shifted to a different studio.

According to the Times Union of Albany, Stiller is also the executive director on the film, which is based on the 2015 Clinton Correctional Facility prison break of prisoners Richard Matt and David Sweat. The Times Union said that Benicio Del Toro will play Matt, Patricia Arquette will play prison employee Joyce Mitchell, and Paul Dano will play Sweat.